ជើងខ្ពស់

Keng Chiang (High Kick)

Difficulty: IntermediateAll Strikes

The high kick is a roundhouse kick specifically targeting the head and neck. It is one of the highest-scoring techniques in Kun Khmer and can end a fight instantly with a clean connection. Requires significant flexibility and practice.

Steps

Set up the kick with a preceding technique — a jab, low kick, or feint to lower the opponent's guard.
Execute the roundhouse kick mechanics but aim the shin at the opponent's temple, jaw, or neck.
Drive the hip through fully and aim to kick through the target, not just to it.
Recover quickly — if the kick misses, you may be off-balance and exposed to counters.

Key Points

The high kick is most effective when disguised with setups; throwing it raw is predictable.
Flexibility training is essential — if you cannot comfortably reach head height in training, do not attempt it in fights.
The kick must be fast enough to land before the opponent can raise their guard; speed beats power for high kicks.

Common Mistakes

Telegraphing the kick by looking at the head or lifting the leg early before committing.
Not committing to the hip rotation, resulting in a leg-only kick that lacks knockout power.
Throwing the high kick when too far away, resulting in the foot connecting instead of the shin.

Targets

Temple
Jaw
Neck
Behind the ear

Keng Chiang (High Kick)

Steps

Key Points

Common Mistakes

Targets

Related Content

Kat Keng (Roundhouse Kick)

Keng Kraom (Low Kick)

Tep Keng (Push Kick / Teep)